Obituary

Masakazu Yoshizawa, 57; bridged the musical gap between the U.S. and Japan

 

Cultural News, December 2007

 

 

 

Versatile musician Masakazu Yoshizawa, 1950-2007.

 

 

By Kayoko Wakita

 

   Once Masakazu Yoshizawa embraced an instrument, he had entered his special world of music. The tones reflected the purity and clarity of his place of birth located at the foothills of the Japan Alps. He was a rare individual who bridged two cultures with ease – be it classical, jazz, pop, traditional Japanese folk, chamber music or Kabuki.

 

    Yoshizawa passed away at his San Gabriel home on Oct. 24. He was 57.

 

    Masakazu Yoshizawa was born on Sept. 10, 1950 in Takayama, Gifu prefectrure, Japan. Although his mother was the obstetrician and his father was the veterinarian, he chose music as his major. After high school, he moved to Tokyo to pursue his musical studies at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music – his instrument of choice, the clarinet.

 

    Excelling on most woodwind instruments, he was sought by Japan’s TV, film studios, orchestras and live pop bands. Because of his versatile skills, he was often asked to join U.S. bands on their concert tours. He usually doubled on the flute and saxophone.

 

    A perfectionist at heart, he pursued his studies of the clarinet and emigrated to the U.S. in the mid-1970s. One of his first jobs was playing the clarinet solo in “Rhapsody in Blue” at the Music Center in Los Angeles. Many trio and ensemble work followed as well as students requesting lessons.

 

   Within a few years, he managed to master the shakuhachi, Japanese percussion and later, the shamisen. He recorded and performed with Osamu Kitajima’s Band in the U.S. and Japan.

 

   Soon he was composing and arranging pieces to record with Hiromi Hashibe on the koto and Tateo Takahashi on the shamisen calling themselves the “Kokin Gumi.” They concretized widely in the U.S. and Japan.

 

     His shakuhachi virtuosity led him to join Toshiko Akiyoshi’s Big Band at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Europe. He was also active studio musician for the film industry, TV and recording including frighten sounds for “Jurassic Park” to the recent “Memoirs of a Geisha.”

 

     Upon completion of “Memoirs,” he was invited by John Williams to join him and the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood to perform a duet with Yo Yo Ma, playing selections from “Memoirs.”

 

    A few weeks before Yoshizawa died, he recorded a CD with an instrument he had made himself - a very large shakuhachi. He wrote for this instrument and included several friends to share in this inspired work. This was recorded and produced by Osamu Kitajima.

 

  Masakazu Yoshizawa was a truly remarkable and versatile musician who almost single-handedly bridged the musical gap between the U.S. and Japan.

 

    Kayoko Wakita is a retired professor in Asian Studies at Los Angeles City College. She is a professional koto player.

 

(Editor’s note: The memorial service for Masakaza Yoshozawa was held on Nov. 11 at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles.)